Although Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, is a member of the rival All Progressives Congress, he has endorsed what the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is doing.
Obi, also from the South-East, is fighting hard to clinch the presidency, with his movement also largely transcending the region.
Umahi said he loved his strides, but said it would not translate into victory in 2023.
According to him, it will only prepare ground for an Igbo ascension.
Speaking to journalists during the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Ebonyi on Friday, Umahi said:
“The structure and the spread of APC is such that victory is assured. And I can assure you that some of the disagreements in some states are going to be resolved. A mechanism has been put in place by Mr. President, the candidate of the party, his vice and then the national chairman and leadership of the party, to sort out our differences. And I think we are well prepared for victory in 2023.
“What happened during the primaries of PDP and APC, were a kind of miscalculation by our people but to say whether they’re ready for the presidency of the country anytime, I think that the movement of Peter Obi is an eye opener.
“That’s why I said, I love what he’s doing. I’m encouraged by what he’s doing. Because if he’s not doing what he’s doing, it means that the South East would have been forgotten.
“So, while my party takes the victory, he would have prepared a very good ground, for the South East Presidency, so that nobody is going to write us off. And you can see the level of his acceptability, which does not translate to victory over APC. I’m sure of that, but it’s a good movement. And it reassures the southeast people and the entire country that we are accepted, you know, that we will one day become the president of this country. It is very important.
“As a party man, I would wish that our party would win. And if God says no, the next person I wish that should win is Peter Obi. Because I believe strongly and I will say it anywhere in this north-south presidency after the north has taken eight years, there is no moral justification for the north to be seeking to take another eight years, it should go to the south. And so, I’m not wishing Peter Obi away.
“Everybody has the chance of winning and chances of losing but you must always have a wish.”
